Graduate Students

Most of the policies, procedures, and accommodations for students with disabilities are the same for graduate students and undergraduate students. If you used accommodations at UT Austin as an undergraduate student, your accommodations will continue if you decide to pursue Graduate School at UT Austin. Below are some examples of ways that accommodations and policies might be different in Graduate School. If you have specific questions about accommodations as a graduate student, please contact our office directly.

Full time status is typically required for graduate students who are seeking or maintaining an appointment as a TA, AI, GA, or GRA. SSD can help students maintain full time status while taking a reduced course load if their disability prevents them from managing a full course load and an appointment. Students must be registered with SSD in order to use this accommodation and they are encouraged to discuss this accommodation with their graduate advisor to learn how this may affect their progress in their program of study.

For doctoral students who have finished classes and are in their dissertation phase, most classroom accommodations are no longer relevant. However, SSD can still provide support and advice on an individual basis. This often involves assistance with navigating the dissertation process, working with graduate advisors and dissertation committees, and balancing their disability with their academic demands.

Thinking about going to grad school?

University of Washington has created a helpful guide for students with disabilities who are considering pursuing a graduate degree. In an active e-mentoring community, individuals with disabilities and mentors shared advice about how individuals with disabilities can be successful in graduate coursework. Their experiences, perceptions, and advice can help others, including those with disabilities, transition to, succeed in, and graduate with advanced degrees.

Here is some information about requesting accommodations on standardized tests such as the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT. If you have specific questions about requesting or using accommodations on standardized exams, please contact your assigned Coordinator or bring your questions to Walk In.

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